By George P. Hassett

The owner of a problem property on Medford Street that is at the center of an arson investigation has died.

Rocco Polino died suddenly in Florida last month, said Alderman-at-Large William A. White at a committee on public health and public safety meeting last week. The committee had become involved with the property at 492 Medford St. because of neighborhood complaints that Polino was violating zoning laws.

In 2003, Polino was twice rejected by the Zoning Board of Appeals when he tried to build a laundromat and then a two-family home on the property. When Polino did receive approval from the board to build a single-unit home in July 2004 he instead reverted to his original plan and began to construct a multi-family unit, according to city officials.

A stop work order was issued when Inspectional Services discovered the ruse and the property has sat vacant and unfinished ever since.

Ward 5 Alderman Sean T. O’Donovan and White scheduled a Public Safety Committee meeting for Feb. 12 to discuss the property and what legal action the city could take against Polino. City Solicitor John Gannon was invited to attend by O’Donovan.

‚ÄúThe city needs to take legal action to require this man to conform to the zoning,‚Äù O’Donovan said at a Jan. 10 Board of Aldermen meeting.

Eight days before the public safety meeting, 492 Medford St. caught fire. And now in the midst of the arson investigation, Polino has died.

Deputy Fire Chief Pete St. Clair said arson investigators had been hoping to interview Polino about the fire. The day of the fire, Chief Kevin Kelleher said arson was suspected because the building had been vacant and no work crews had been there recently.

Inspectional Services Director George Landers said Polino’s daughter told him she would finish the construction of the home.

“She said her father had wished to finish the house so that is what she will do,” he said.